Officer/Pilot confusion

I already looked up the theme of my question in the search bar, although I haven't seen anything that helps clear up my concern.

I am enlisting as an 11B in the Kentucky National Guard. I will be attending college upon my return from OSUT and plan on taking part in the SMP Cadet option.

I would like to commission as a pilot, but I hear commissioned officers don't get as much flight time and eventually stop flying all together once a certain rank is achieved. I've heard rumors that once you commission you can somehow pursue a role as a Warrant officer to get the flight time you desire.

1. Is this possible at all? If possible, please explain as I do not understand the logic behind all of this. Wouldn't it be silly to go through ROTC only to ditch that for training you could get without a degree?

2. In terms of C.O.C., are Warrant officers and commissioned officers equal? I don't quite understand the difference besides that Warrant officers specialize in ONE field and don't require degrees.

Any clarification is greatly appreciated as I'm trying to get a rough plan for where I'm headed as a soldier. Thanks in advance.

I already looked up the theme of my question in the search bar, although I haven't seen anything that helps clear up my concern.

I am enlisting as an 11B in the Kentucky National Guard. I will be attending college upon my return from OSUT and plan on taking part in the SMP Cadet option.

I would like to commission as a pilot, but I hear commissioned officers don't get as much flight time and eventually stop flying all together once a certain rank is achieved. I've heard rumors that once you commission you can somehow pursue a role as a Warrant officer to get the flight time you desire.

1. Is this possible at all? If possible, please explain as I do not understand the logic behind all of this. Wouldn't it be silly to go through ROTC only to ditch that for training you could get without a degree?

2. In terms of C.O.C., are Warrant officers and commissioned officers equal? I don't quite understand the difference besides that Warrant officers specialize in ONE field and don't require degrees.

Any clarification is greatly appreciated as I'm trying to get a rough plan for where I'm headed as a soldier. Thanks in advance.

Technically speaking, All warrant officers outrank all enlisted and are outranked by all regular officers. There are some warrant officers who serve as a commanding officer, but those are far and few between. With that said, there won't be any O-1's ordering around a CW5 anytime soon. They are still commissioned officers.

A warrant is a specialist, a regular O is a generalist. An aviation O will not completely stop flying, but you are somewhat correct, as rank goes up, flight time comes down.

It depends on what you are in the SMP program for. It still comes with a significant amount of benefits, and I have know aviation officers to switch back and fourth between W and O for different purposes.

Technically speaking, All warrant officers outrank all enlisted and are outranked by all regular officers. There are some warrant officers who serve as a commanding officer, but those are far and few between. With that said, there won't be any O-1's ordering around a CW5 anytime soon. They are still commissioned officers.

A warrant is a specialist, a regular O is a generalist. An aviation O will not completely stop flying, but you are somewhat correct, as rank goes up, flight time comes down.

It depends on what you are in the SMP program for. It still comes with a significant amount of benefits, and I have know aviation officers to switch back and fourth between W and O for different purposes.

If you don't mind me asking, could you tell me more about the "flip-floppers" you know? Like for instance:

1. The process behind doing so
2. How pay is would work in such a scenario
3. What you recommend for somebody in my position

I understand you are not a recruiter, but you seem very knowledgeable on the subject.

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If you don't mind me asking, could you tell me more about the "flip-floppers" you know? Like for instance:

1. The process behind doing so
2. How pay is would work in such a scenario
3. What you recommend for somebody in my position

I understand you are not a recruiter, but you seem very knowledgeable on the subject.

Since the level of military education of a regular O is considered higher than a W, they can revert their O rank to a W rank without attending additional training (in the aviation field). This usually happens for regular O's that want to go to flight school, or just can't find an O vacancy. It also happens for purposes of full time jobs, or non selection for promotion.

Don't worry about the process...by the time something like this would be relevant for you you would know how to do it. If I explain it now, you would be confused.

The pay would be whatever grade you are.

There is something called "save" pay, I'm not going to explain it because it wouldn't apply in this situation. Someone may mention it....ignore them they are wrong.

If you are going to go to school, I would not pass up on the ROTC/SMP program. Valuable experience to be gained and many education incentives.

Since the level of military education of a regular O is considered higher than a W, they can revert their O rank to a W rank without attending additional training (in the aviation field). This usually happens for regular O's that want to go to flight school, or just can't find an O vacancy. It also happens for purposes of full time jobs, or non selection for promotion.

Don't worry about the process...by the time something like this would be relevant for you you would know how to do it. If I explain it now, you would be confused.

The pay would be whatever grade you are.

There is something called "save" pay, I'm not going to explain it because it wouldn't apply in this situation. Someone may mention it....ignore them they are wrong.

If you are going to go to school, I would not pass up on the ROTC/SMP program. Valuable experience to be gained and many education incentives.

Thanks for clearing that up. I am DEFINITELY doing the SMP option. Too many benefits not to take part since I'll be attending college anyways.

Besides financial and experience benefits, is there anything else you're thinking of that has you pushing SMP so hard?

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Thanks for clearing that up. I am DEFINITELY doing the SMP option. Too many benefits not to take part since I'll be attending college anyways.

Besides financial and experience benefits, is there anything else you're thinking of that has you pushing SMP so hard?

Networking. If you decide to compete for an active duty commission, and by chance are selected for reserve forces duty instead, you at least will have a few people who can help you find a unit and receive a letter of acceptance.

Who knows, maybe sometime before you commission you will change your mind and want to branch something else. Your previous guard experience should give you a general idea of what type of units exist in your area.

Networking. If you decide to compete for an active duty commission, and by chance are selected for reserve forces duty instead, you at least will have a few people who can help you find a unit and receive a letter of acceptance.

Who knows, maybe sometime before you commission you will change your mind and want to branch something else. Your previous guard experience should give you a general idea of what type of units exist in your area.

Very true. I suppose I've never thought of things like that.

You think all the experience from OSUT and Drills will help me excel in the ROTC program or no?

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Networking. If you decide to compete for an active duty commission, and by chance are selected for reserve forces duty instead, you at least will have a few people who can help you find a unit and receive a letter of acceptance.

Who knows, maybe sometime before you commission you will change your mind and want to branch something else. Your previous guard experience should give you a general idea of what type of units exist in your area.

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Since you're concerned about it have you ever considered applying as a warrant officer first? You'll spend way more time working with both W and O grades than you would as an SMP cadet, and probably get a much better view of what each side does. Flight school itself could also roll over into a huge number of college credits for you, and if you decide you want to go the O grade route later on, the day you pin on a 2LT bar you'll already be a branch qualified AV officer (plus you'll be going up in rank as opposed to going down the way you would if you decide to go the O-grade route and then revert). Just my 2 cents.